Community College Students Honored at Annual All-Connecticut Academic Team Awards Ceremony
(HARTFORD, CT) – Sixteen outstanding students from nine community colleges, along with two students from St. Vincent’s College, were honored Friday at the State Capitol during the annual All-Connecticut Academic Team awards ceremony. The All-Connecticut Academic Team recognizes the outstanding scholarly achievements and leadership accomplishments of students enrolled in Connecticut’s community and junior colleges. The students chosen for the state team also represented the State of Connecticut in the All-USA Academic Team Competition. The ceremony was sponsored by Northwestern Connecticut Community College, the Board of Regents for Higher Education and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges.
“These students represent some of the best and brightest across our community college campuses, and they should be congratulated for their hard work, commitment and perseverance,” said David Levinson, Vice President for Community Colleges at the Board of Regents and President of Norwalk Community College. “Learning more about each of these students – including what they plan to do after graduation from community college – is inspirational and helps to ensure our focus remains on supporting the success of our students.”
“These students are the top scholars from among Connecticut’s community college students” said Sharon Gusky, professor of biology at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and event organizer. “Some of them will be transferring Yale, Trinity, or the University of Connecticut, while others will remain in the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU) system. Regardless of where they go, they will succeed in their endeavors because of the strong education they received at our community colleges.”
The students honored Friday included:
Patricia Dawson – Asnuntuck
Kristina Green – Asnuntuck
Ruben Cartagena – Capital
Christina James – Capital
Kyra Palange – Housatonic
Patricia Albers – Manchester
Anton Pettiford – Manchester
Michael Vessichio – Middlesex
Lisa Gangone – Middlesex
Jacklyn Orabona – Naugatuck Valley
Nicole Williams – Naugatuck Valley
Donna Newsome – Northwestern Connecticut
John Spillane – Northwestern Connecticut
Christopher Arena – Norwalk
Derya Yildirim – Norwalk
Naomi Lemire – Tunxis
Jason Howard – St Vincent’s College
Elizabeth Smith – St Vincent’s College
Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.
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